ArtFire

The Turkoman capraz is usually fashioned as a gilded silver two pieced brooch that is sewn onto the cloak on each side of the front opening. The sewing thread is passed through the loops at three of the corners of the square silver piece.

One corner may be allowed to protrude sufficiently for the piece of the capraz sewn to the other side of the opening to meet it and be clasped together. In this case, the clasp would have been a simple hook that would be partly hidden behind the gilded silver ram's head ancestor symbol that extends over the corner loops. Or the brooch pieces can be attached to the cloak on all four corners and the clasp can extend across the front opening of the cloak. Often a hook and eye clasp is attached to each of the near corners and that serves as the clasp.

The matching carnelian gems are table cut, smooth-faced and translucent. The gilding is beginning to develop a bit of pentimento (the silver base is barely able to be discerned in some places) due to age.

These pieces have the characteristic Teke emphasis on water symbols along with the very cleverly designed ram's heads that harmonize so well with the water symbols. Ancestors and Life (water) are highly valued in Turkoman spirituality.

Measurements: Each part of the brooch is 4.5 inches square

silver and carnelian

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